Carvoeiro 2009 Holiday review

[dodger]

shanagarry what an odd way to pass your time.

[shanagarry]

What - going to Gibraltar?

[Bristle Si]

Interesting detailed post that Shanagarry. But my point about the supermarkets wasn't the comparison with the UK alone (even allowing for the exchange rate issue), but just the rip-off prices!

The rest of the holiday experience in CVO was ab fab as usual. And we'll be back next year enjoying the atmosphere and giving the following our hard earned cash:
- Big Will at Round Up saloon
- Jenny at Havana Cocktail Bar
- Happys, Oasis, Chef Antonio, Villa Medici, O Indiano (Castello) and others
- Booze shops
- Supermarkets but only for the absolute essentials

[shanagarry]

Hi Bristol - In the 3 months had two great nights at Big Wills - but oh boy did I suffer the next day(s).

Villa Medici is always good - never used the others you mentioned.

[Bristle Si]

Suffer the next day??!!

Try Happy's first and then Round Up after! Libby and Harry ensure you leave Happy's half cut, then Round Up for more drinks! Pass the paracetemol!!

Luckily one can spend the next day sleeping in the sun!

[widge]

What I am struggling to understand in this post is the constant comparison with the UK - why? Making the comparison is futile - the currency issue takes care of that.

Nearly all tourists compare local prices with those at home, after all, that's how you determine if it's cheaper or more expensive. The exchange rate is valid for UK visitors but I wonder how visitors from Ireland or Holland find the prices?

I think that prices have inflated considerably over the past two years, way beyond the exchange rate differential. I don't like it but I am more concerned about how the locals on fixed incomes cope with these increases than what the tourists think - they have a choice!

[shanagarry]

We had several Irish visitors over the Summer period and I heard none of them complain about prices - they never commented on them. It is worth noting that none of them, including us, patronise Intermarche and the smaller stores in town. You have to go inland, assuming you have the means to do so (some holiday makers do not hire a car and are restricted to the shops in the town) to shop - that's what many of the Portuguese do. That's what our maid tells us - apparently very few of them shop south of the 125

On the occasions I go into Intermarche - to buy the paper - the only Portuguese I see in there are either employees or locals using the coffee bar. However, Pao de Acucar and Pingo Doce invariably have more Portuguese customers than visitors or ex-pat residents. That tells its own story.

The earlier posts rightfully supporting the local convenience stores in town are appropriate - but that's exactly what they are - convenience stores. They don't have the buying power and the business volumes of the big-boys and have a small window of opportunity during the short summer season and are doing just that. In some cases the prices are excessive - one example being the shop at the entrance to Rocha Brava - if you really want to be 'ripped off' - go there. They are opportunists in a prime location and take advantage because there are no other shops within walking distance or even a short drive - good luck to them.

Follow the advice of the locals and you won't go far wrong - from fuel to food to light bulbs to car washes, everything - they know where to go and you don't hear them complaining - they get on with life and don't appear to go without. Stop whingeing about 'rip-off' prices - go and find an alternative - there are plenty. How many people in the UK complain about Waitrose prices' yet their stores are always busy and they are profitable - so are Lidl, Aldi et al at the other end of the spectrum - are they 'ripping-off' their customers

[EMM]

We overheard Irish holiday makers commenting on the " GOOD " value of the Algarve compared to Ireland.

Quote " MIN price in half decent restaraunt in Dublin for a night out for 2 is at least 100 euros ).

In the period that £ has declined by over 40% inflation in Portugal less than 10 so don,t blame the Portuguese for our misfortunes or expect them to subsidise us either.

Don,t you think that they would rather have loads more Brits spending their Euros because of a stronger £.

[Aldo]

We visit Carvoeiro on a regular basis and are now buying a villa as we love it so much.
However it is expensive to eat and drink, but its the price you pay for staying in a quality resort. Its much cheaper to eat out in Albufeira and other very large and popular resorts.
Do we want to go there?

[Ellie]

Some of the shops couldn't be more expensive than our local Sainsburys! Bring back Somerfields
But it is true about shopping where the Portuguese shop.....go inland and you will find such places. We found that out when we lived there and I always tried to patronise local shops.

I recall a small supermarket in Lagoa (not there now), where the lady always spoke to us in French...as we paid at the checkout she would say " Tout? Finis?"
(when my son had his haircut in Lagoa, the barber though he was French)

[shanagarry]

There's a lot to be said for the old adage "When in Rome - do as the Romans do" and when in Portugal don't do as the Brits do

[Bristle Si]

Do none of you read the posts from start to finish??!!

This is part of my post last week:

"Thank you to the following local convenience stores, located centrally in CVO:

- The various booze and ciggie shops - fair prices, good value
- The couple of pattiserie/cafes which offer good value
- The new Juice bar - wrap or baguette and drink for about 5 euros
- The number of pottery shops offering good quality products at fair prices
- The bars/restaurants/cafes still offering good products at fair prices
- The little gift shops selling beach stuff and much more, again at fair prices
- The pharmacies"

These stores "convenient" to CVO centre offer good products at fair values, so why don't the supermarkets??!!

To all those thinking of visiting CVO next year (incl. the newbies) - avoid the supermarkets in CVO. Don't pay their prices! 'Force' them to be more competitive. We owe them nothing! The tourists of Europe are not some kind of charitable crusade, who owe these people a living! Some people on here appear to think we owe them a living; we do not!!

And daring to compare with Sainsbury's, Waitrose, etc is plain incorrect! Our supermarkets are very good value these days offering excellent produce at fair prices! The myth that has circulated from the rest of Europe and expats living in southern europe that it is better value than the UK is complete tosh!

Those days are long gone! We go to the holiday resorts for the sun, relaxation and chilling out time. If these places are such brilliant value than why do the middle class hordes that populate CVO during the holiday season stay in their villa for half the holiday??!!

Eat out, live a bit, have a few drinks, sing, dance and take home a few bottles, visit the beaches and other places of interest, that's what a holiday in The Algarve is about...it's NOT about supporting the supermarkets!

[shanagarry]

Bristle - not quite sure what it is you are trying to say - couldn't agree more with you regarding supermarkets - that's why we go out of our way to find the most competitively priced and out of town - meaning we don't believe we are being ripped off. The supermarkets we use are far less expensive than the convenience stores - but when we need something in a hurry - we have to pay up.

You are not serious are you when you say that "Our supermarkets are very good value these days offering excellent produce at fair prices! The myth that has circulated from the rest of Europe and expats living in southern europe that it is better value than the UK is complete tosh!" I suspect you are involved in that industry. They operate a monopoly that steam-rollers their suppliers into submission at every turn, while trying to take out the competition and leave us with little alternative. Incidentally, I am not suggesting life in Southern Europe Supermarket World is any different - I suspect not.

Calling for a boycott will fall on deaf ears - I understand that Lidl have applied for planning permission in Lagoa - meaning there will be even more choice and competition - so maybe your 'prayers' are being answered in a slightly different way.

[Bristle Si]

No, i'm not connected at all to the UK supermarket industry. Maybe it's my membership of Which? and general consumer champion status that feeds my frustration.

CVO is, and will hopefully remain, my yearly dose of chill-out medicine, giving me respite from the pressures of everyday life in the UK....better than a course of anti-depressants anyday!

I probably read like a typical Brit Abroad, which i'm not. It's just that the convenience supermarkets of CVO are the one blight on an otherwise good value for money resort.

[shanagarry]

Fair point and I realise you don't go on holiday to go shopping for food - so using the facilities on your doorstep is a necessary evil. Believe me when I tell you that going a short distance inland will completely change your viewpoint - Modelo in Silves is a case in point.

I'm surprised you haven't remarked on the prices in Big Wills - while its a good night out it is not inexpensive